Apparatus for loading vessels with coal or other material.



No. 775,164. PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904. 0. BROWN. APPARATUS FOR LOADINGVESSELS WITH GOAL OR OTHER MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUGr 19,1901.

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No. 775,164. PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

0. BROWN. v APPARATUS FOR LOADING VESSELS WITH GOAL OR OTHER MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1901.

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7 1111 ll 1 1 1/1 1 11111 11 l 11 @2525. HEEL f No. 775,164. PATENTEDNOV. 15, 1904. C. BROWN. APPARATUS FOR LOADING VESSELS WITH COAL OROTHER MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, 1901.

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WEEEEPS No. 775,164. PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904. 0. BROWN.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING VBSSELS WITH COAL OR OTHER MATERIAL.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 19, 1901.

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XXTIQEEEEE IQVEQLUIT UNITED STATES Patented November 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BROWVN, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO TVILLIAMHAROLD WVATSON, OF GREAT CROSBY, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING VESSELS WITH COAL OR OTHER MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 775,164, datedNovember 15, 1904.

Application filed August 19, 1901. Serial No. 72,604. (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES BROWN, asubject of the King of England,residing at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, (whosepostal address is 23 Hero road, Bootle, near Liverpool, aforesaid,) haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for LoadingVessels with Coal or other Material, (for which application for LettersPatent has been made in England under Provisional Protection No. 2,344,dated February 4, 1901,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention, which relates to apparatus for loading vessels with coalor other material, has for its object to provide a simpler, moreefficient, and more easily worked apparatus than has hitherto beenknown, by means of which the material is transhipped direct from thebarge to the vessel it is intended to load, and on account of thearrangement of which it is not necessary to employ any human laborbeyond that needed to work the machinery and adjust the apparatus.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation,partly in section, of this improved apparatus; Figs. 2, 3, and 4,enlarged detail views of portions of the same; Fig. 5, an end view ofthe whole apparatus; Figs. 6 and '7, elevation and plan, respectively,of details hereinafter described; Fig. 8, a plan view of a portion ofthe apparatus; Fig. 9, an enlarged detail view showing the driving-gear,and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the means for securing the bargeto the side of the vessel to be loaded and for moving the formerlengthwise of the vessel.

In the figures, arepresentsa barge containing the coal or other materialto be conveyed to the ship. This barge, it will be observed, has nobeams athwartships, this being necessary for the proper workingof theapparatus; but as a barge constructed in this way would be considerablyweakened it is compensated for by strengthening the sides by means ofstrong trusses 7) inside and web frames 7) outside, as shown in Fig. 5.Furthermore, to

the deepest and strongest portion of the outside ribs I fix a beam orbelting 0, extending the whole length of the barge and having preferablya metal face-plate (Z. Consequently this beam will be the first point ofcontact should the barge come against another vessel or against aquaywall, thus protecting the gunwale, which, as before stated, issomewhat weak owing to the barge having no athwartship beams orsupports. In order to facilitate the removal of the coal from the barge,inclined plates (1, extending the whole length of the barge, areprovided, being secured to the sides and to the bottom thereof, therebycutting off the angles or corners formed by the junction of the bottomand the sides, and in view of the extra strain brought to bear on thebottom of the barge, owing to the point of contact being brought so low,the bottom is formed double, as shown. This barge is fitted with anelevator composed of an endless chain f, with a succession of buckets gthereon which dip into the hold of the barge. The chain I prefer to useconsists of straight links, Figs. 3 and 4, hinged to each other andformed with recesses 7t into which the teeth a j is the frame carryingthe chainment, both as regards the depth and the angle of inclination.This may be effected by placing blocks of wood 7) of varying sizesbetween the frame 0 and the frame j, such blocks being held in positionbya boltq passing through it and through the frames. The supplementaryoctagonal chain-wheel m is supported by links 2' and tie-rod a, thelatter having a turnbuckle and the former having free ends capable ofbeing secured in different positions to the fixed plates 2, whereby suchwheel can be adjusted. a0 is a regulating-bush for varying the positionof the chainwheel is. u is a'hood pivoted to the frame and capable ofbeing adjusted by a stay-rod b, one end of which is pivoted to the hood,as shown in Fig. 2. Its other end passing through a lug on the frame 3'is threaded to receive nuts in awell-known manner. T o insure that allthe material being conveyed by the buckets shall pass in the rightdirection, a counterweighted baffle-plate w is pivoted to the hood, sothat any material striking it will be de fiected into the inclined chutex, such plate being pushed aside by each of the buckets as they pass,but resuming its normal position directly each bucket has passed, owingto its weighted arm.

0 is an inclined hopper or chute suspended at one end from the hood u,preferably by chains, its other end resting in a second inclined chute gand capable of sliding therein, rails 2 being provided on the latter andwheels or rollers 1 on the former to facilitate this movement.

.2 is a vertical chute supported by an arm 3 and adjusted bya rack andpinion L; 5, a second vertical chute, telescoping with chute 2 and beingsupported by chains 6 passing over pulley 7 and round a wheel 8, rotatedby a worm and wheel 9.

10 is a worm and wheel and rack for adjusting the inclined chute 2 11represents the side of the ship, and 12 a removable hopper mounted onthe side of the ship. In order to keep the barge parallel to and at aconstant distance from the vessel when loading, two or more brackets 13,Figs. 6 and 7, are hinged to the side of the barge and are provided withrollers 14, which when in use bear against the side of the ship, thebrackets being held in the horizontal position by an arm 15, projectingfrom a vertical rod 16. This latter is mounted in bearings on the sideof the barge and extends upward to a little above the top of the barge,being preferably formed square at the top to receive akey or spanner.When not in use, the arm 15 can be turned clear of thebracket 13, asshown by dotted lines, Fig. 7, the latter being then turned up so as tolie flat against the side of the barge, as shown by dotted lines in Fig.6. The elevator is worked by a steam-engine 17 through the interventionof gearing. The engine is mounted on a framework or truck 18, withwheels which travel or rails 19 arranged crosswise of the barge. Theserails are fixed to a lower frame or truck 20, which is provided withwheels adapted to run on rails 21, fixed on the gunwale of the barge,the lower truck therefore traveling at right angles to the upper one.The elevator can be traveled both longitudinally and transverselywithout putting the machinery out of gear and can be moved to anyposition required without stopping the buckets. The gear can be theordinary overhead crane-gear. On the drawings the engine 17 drives ashaft 22, which is geared to a second shaft 23, both havingreversing-gear 24. The shaft 22 effects the transverse movement of theupper frame by gearing 25 and 26, Fig. 5, and the shaft 23 the lowerframe by gearing 27 and 28, and the chain carrying the buckets isdriven, preferably, from shaft 22 by means of sprocket-wheels 29 and 30and chain 31, the latter wheel being mounted on shaft 32, on which thetoothed wheels 33 are mounted. The chain is driven by the teeth of thesewheels, Fig. 9, engaging in the recesses of the chain, as beforementioned. The shaft 32 can either be driven direct or reducing-gear 31, as shown in Fig. 1, can be interposed.

One part of the barge is provided with a capstan 35, Fig. 8, having arope 45, the bight of which passes round the drum of the windlass, theends of such ropes after passing over pulleys 36 and other suitableguides being fastened to opposite ends of the vessel. These ropes keepthe barge moored to the vessel, and by turning the capstan one rope iswound thereon and the other unwound, thereby moving the barge in eitherdirection, so as to bring the chutes opposite each coal-port of theship. To support the inclined chute y, the girders of the lower truckare extended, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 1 and in full lines Fig. 8,and are joined by a cross-bar 37. On this cross-bar are fixed plates towhich the uprights 38 are attached.

39, Fig. 5, is a platform.

The mode of action is as follows: The buckets being set in motion theyscoop or shovel up the coal or other material from the hold of the bargeand deliver it into the chutes, from whence it is conveyed into thevessel being loaded. The man in charge actuates the gearing so as tocause the elevator to travel to and fro both transversely andlongitudinally, thus keeping the buckets always fed up to the coal untilthe whole width and length of the barge is completely emptied. The manstanding on the platform 39 operates the worm-gear and racks and pinionsbefore described of the telescopic chutes and hoppers to correspond withthe different positions of the elevator and the varying heights of theship and barge. The apparatus may be fitted with a derrick and tackle toshift the hopper 12, attached to the coal-ports of the ship to the nextport.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an apparatus for loading vessels, thecombination of a barge for holding the material to be loaded; means onthe barge for holding it at a given distance from and in rolling contactwith the vessel which is being loaded; an elevator adapted to raise thematerial; chutes adapted to guide said material from the elevator; avertically-adjustable hopper designed to receive the material from thechutes; and means for feeding the elevator-buckets up to the material inthe barge.

2. In an apparatus for loading vessels, the combination of a barge;fenders hinged on the barge for holding it at a given distance from thevessel to be loaded; means for locking said fenders when in use; meansfor turning said fenders to a vertical position when not in use; anelevator on said barge adapted to raise the material to be loaded;chutes adapted to guide said material from the elevator; averticallyadjustable hopper designed to receive thematerial from saidchutes; and means for feeding the elevator-buckets up to the material inthe barge.

3. In an apparatus for loading vessels, a barge; an elevator on saidbarge; means for moving said elevator toany position thereon; a vesselto be loaded; hoppers on the side of said vessel; chutes leading fromsaid elevator; means on the barge and vessel to be loaded for alteringthe position of said barge lengthwise of the vessel, whereby the chutesmay be brought in turn opposite the various hoppers.

I. In an apparatus for loading vessels, a barge; an elevator on saidbarge; means for moving said elevator to any position thereon; a vesselto be loaded; hoppers on the side of said vessel; chutes leading fromsaid elevator; a rope secured fore and aft on said vessel; and a capstanon said barge adapted to be turned and to support a plurality ofwindings of said rope, whereby the barge is moved lengthwise of thevessel and the chutes are brought in turn opposite the various hoppers.

5. In an apparatus for loading vessels, a barge; an elevator on saidbarge; means for moving said elevator to any position thereon;

means for adjusting said elevator in regard to both depth andinclination; in combination with an elevator-chain; buckets on saidchain; and a third and adjustable wheel on said elevator, whereby ascooping motion is given to the buckets and the travel oi the sameadjusted relatively to the bottom of the barge.

6. In an apparatus for loading vessels, the combination of a barge; anelevator; an inclined chute; and a counterweighted, pivoted bafl'lefixed to the top of said chute, said bafile being adapted to guide thematerial into the chute and also to turn on its pivot so as to allow thepassage of the buckets of the elevator inside the same.

7. In an apparatus for loading vessels, the combination of a barge forthe material to be loaded; an elevator capable of travel longitudinallyand laterally on said barge; means for moving said elevator; at thirdadjustable wheel near the lower extremity of the elevator adapted toadjust the travel of elevatorbuckets situated on said elevator, inrelation to the bottom of the barge; an inclined adjustable chutesituated near the upper end of the elevator; means for adjusting saidchute; a counterweighted, pivoted baflie at the top of said chute; avertical hopper adjustable as to length and horizontally as to position;and means for so adjusting said hopper, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 27th day ofJuly, 1901, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES BROWN.

\Vitnesses:

G. C. Dniom), SIDNEY XV. D01).

